Hearing Assistive Technology Procedures

Children with hearing loss will likely experience difficulty accessing auditory information within the educational setting, particularly students with “minimal” hearing loss that is not amplified and those with auditory needs not related to hearing loss. The purpose of HATs is to amplify the intended signal (e.g. the teacher’s voice) and reduce barriers related to distance and background noise and may be necessary to support access to auditory information. HATs should be considered carefully, based on the needs of the student. Some systems are designed for listeners with typical hearing and some are intended to interact with personal amplification (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) for those who are hard of hearing. HATs do not provide individualized amplification per the child's hearing needs and may be contraindicated at times.  The type of device selected for use is based on individual student auditory needs, student mobility throughout the school day, teaching style, and other factors; teams may NOT request a specific type of device as this must be determined by an audiologist. The selection and benefit of devices must be determined by an audiologist. When hearing assistive technology is utilized, a monitoring plan should be discussed among the educational team members to ensure appropriate function and benefit.

Assistive listening devices are available to all students in the District, as needed and appropriate. A trial is always completed to determine need, and benefit is reviewed each year to ensure the appropriateness of the accommodation.  To request a device, complete this request packet with your school speech-language therapist and submit to the district audiologist. 

Find support documents for devices here. 

At the end of the trial, typically 4-6 weeks, your team will need to record the student's use of the device and provide feedback regarding the child's benefit; please use the Documentation Packet accordingly.  These forms must also be sent to the district audiologist.